Electromagnetically-operated pattern control mechanism for circular knitting machines

ABSTRACT

An electromagnetically-operated pattern control mechanism for circular knitting machines, said machines having needles and mechanical control parts such as needle jacks, the needles and jacks being swingably connected together, the jacks are each provided with a pair of generally similar opposed springs each one of which may be controlled mechanically as well as electromagnetically, at least one of the springs of the spring pair is operated in a pattern controlling manner by at least one electromagnet of an electromagnet pair.

United States Patent Engelfried Nov. 13, 1973 [54] ELECTROMAGNETICALLY-OPERATED 3,449,928 6/1969 Schmidt et a1. 66/50 R PATTERN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR 3,518,845

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Inventor: Werner Engelfried, Sindelfingen,

Germany Assignee: C. Terrot Sohne Maschinenfabrik, Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, Germany Filed: Dec. 24, 1970 Appl. No.: 101,260

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 864,402, Oct. 7, I969, abandoned.

Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 16, 1968 Germany P 18 03 2967 Jan. 8, 1970 Germany P 20 00 578.1

U.S. Cl 66/50 R Int. Cl D04b 15/78 Field of Search 66/50 R, 50 A, 50 B, 66/36 A, 36 B, 25, 75

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/l973 Bourgeois 66/50 R 7/1970 Cerjat 66/50 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 542,709 1/l932 Germany 66/75 Primary Examiner-Wm. Carter Reynolds Attorney-Arthur O. Klein [57] ABSTRACT An electromagnetically-operated pattern control mechanism for circular knitting machines, said machines having needles and mechanical control parts such as needle jacks, the needles and jacks being swingably connected together, the jacks are each provided with a pair of generally similar opposed springs each one of which may be controlled mechanically as well as electromagnetically, at least one of the springs of the spring pair is operated in a pattern controlling manner by at least one electromagnet of an electromagnet pair.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED NOV 1 3 I975 FIG.

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

ELECTROMAGNETICALLY-OPERATED PATTERN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 864,402, filed Oct. 7, 1969 and now abandoned.

This invention relates to an electromagnetically operated pattern control device for circular knitting machines. The invention has among its objects the provision of mechanism of the type indicated which permits a more rapid pattern selection to be made and which overcomes the disadvantages of rapidly reciprocating parts. The invention is characterized by the combination of the following features:

a. Needles and the hitherto known existing mechanical control parts, such as swingable needle jacks, are connected together in a known manner;

b. The mechanical control parts are each provided with a pair of leaf springs, each one of such springs being controlled mechanically as well as electromagnetically.

It is expedient, when the mechanical controlling part comprises a needle jack, that such needle jack be linkedly or swingably bound to the needle. It is preferred that the springs be forced apart through mechanical means before the passage of, the springs through the pattern control mechanism. The selection advance can be so controlled that at least one of the springs of the spring pair will be controlled by at least one electromagnet functioning in a pattern-controlling manner. The operation of the electromagnet may be strengthened in a known manner by means of permanent magnets or further electromagnets. In order further to facilitate the pattern advance, there may be provided a spring separating means whereby the action of turning out or switching of a spring in accordance with a desired pattern is strengthened. I

In the accompanying drawings there are shown a number of illustrative embodiments in accordance with the invention. In the drawings:

FIGS. 1-4, inclusive, show somewhat schematically partially in vertical section and partially in elevation successive pattern-controlling steps in a first embodiment of pattern-controlling mechanism in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 shows in elevation a second embodiment of the springs of the mechanism of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of a third embodiment of the springs of the pattern-controlling mechanism in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view in elevation of a modified embodiment of a pattern-controlling mechanism in accordance with this invention showing the switching magnets; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the switching magnets along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

As above indicated, FIGS. 1-4, inclusive, show successive steps in the operation of a first illustrative embodiment of pattern control mechanism in accordance with the invention. In such embodiment, a needle -1 slidable in a channel on a needle cylinder has swingably connected thereto a needle jack 2. At the lower end of the needle jack 2 there is provided a spring pair having opposed leaf springs 3 and 4 which are mirror images of each other, the springs 3 and 4 extending downwardly parallel to each other until they converge near travel of the needle cylinder it carries therewith the needles 1 and the attached needle jacks 2, the lower ends of the leaf springs 3 and 4 travelling along a guiding path formed of opposed pieces 5. The lower ends of the leaf springs 3 and 4 may be formed in a variety of manners. For example, in FIG. 5 there is shown a spring pair 3, 4 in which the spring 3 extends down wardly in a straight run whereas the opposing spring 4 extends downwardly parallel to the spring 3 until it reaches a point adjacant its lower end, after which it is inclined sharply toward the spring 3'.

In FIG. 6 there is still another variant in which the opposing springs 3" and 4" extend downwardly to converge at a shallow angle with respect to each other until they reach a point near their lower ends where they incline steeply toward each other.

FIG. 2 shows the needle cylinder having rotated sufficiently from its FIG. 1 position for the spring pair 3, 4 to begin its selection advance. At this point, the two springs 3 and 4 are forced apart by a pry piece 6.

FIG. 3 shows the end ofa selection advance in which the needle jack, for example, has been swung to the left. For this purpose the spring 4 will have been magnetically controlled so that it is switched by a magnet (not there shown) into a hitherto existing cam track which holds it securely. The spring 3 is also drawn by the same magnet and is swung to the left.

FIG. 4 shows the swinging of the needle jack and the spring pair 3, 4 in the other direction, that is, to the right. In this case, the spring 3 is swung by another magnet (not there shown) into a previously existing cam track where it is securely held, the spring 4 likewise being swung to the right.

FIG. 7 shows the arrangement of the magnets for the control of the springs 3,4 constituting of slight modifi cation of the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 2. The spring 3 (only a portion of which is shown) glides or slides along pole piece 10 of the magnet 7, such magnet at this moment being de-energized so as to produce no magnetic impulse. The spring 4 (only a portion of which is shown) glides or slides along pole piece 10 of the magnet 8, which is now energized, and will be drawn toward this magnet. The pulling strength of the magnet 8 is enough so as also to pull the spring 3 along the inner line or path of its pattern travel (as shown by the arrow). Accordingly, the spring 3 will be swung to the left so that the needle jack 2 will also be swung to the left as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 shows a plan view of FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the springs which are to control the swinging of the needle jacks (the paths of which are shown by lines) are separated by a separating member Such separating member aids in maintaining the springs in their selected position. However, it is not a necessary part of the apparatus.

The construction of the magnets can be varied in known manners. It is known, for example, that the operation of electromagnets may be varied by permanent magnets or by other electromagnets so as either to strengthen or to weaken the first-mentioned electromagnets, as disclosed in parent U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 864,402.

Although the invention is illustrated and described with reference to a plurality of embodiments thereof,

it is to be expressly understood that it is in no way limited to the disclosure of such a plurality of preferred embodiments, but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electromagnetically-operated pattern control mechanism for circular knitting machines, comprising a needle cylinder carrying needles and associated needle jacks, the needles and needle jacks being connected together and a leaf spring pair connected to each of the needle jacks, and means for controlling each one of the springs mechanically as well as electromagnetically.

2. A pattern control device according to claim 1, wherein the needle jack is swingably connected to the needle.

3'. A pattern control device according to claim 1, comprising a mechanical member for engaging the springs before the beginning of the pattern control path of travel of the needle jack.

4. A pattern control mechanism according to claim 1, comprising an electromagnet pair, and means for opthe springs which have already been selected in a pattern-controlling manner.

6. A pattern control mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the leaf springs of each pair are connected in generally parallel relationship to the lower ends of needle jacks.

7. A pattern control mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the electromagnets of the electromagnet pair are disposed in opposition on opposite sides of the path traversed by the lower ends of the springs of the spring pairs. 

1. An electromagnetically-operated pattern control mechanism for circular knitting machines, comprising a needle cylinder carrying needles and associated needle jacks, the needles and needle jacks being connected together and a leaf spring pair connected to each of the needle jacks, and means for controlling each one of the springs mechanically as well as electromagnetically.
 2. A pattern control device according to claim 1, wherein the needle jack is swingably connected to the needle.
 3. A pattern control device according to claim 1, comprising a mechanical member for engaging the springs before the beginning of the pattern control path of travel of the needle jack.
 4. A pattern control mechanism according to claim 1, comprising an electromagnet pair, and means for operating the selection advance of the needle jacks so that at least one of the springs of the spring pair is operated in a pattern-controlling manner by at least one electromagnet of the electromagnet pair.
 5. A pattern control mechanism according to claim 4, comprising a separating member for the further easing of the pattern-controlling passage of the spring pair, said separating member maintaining the selection of the springs which have already been selected in a pattern-controlling manner.
 6. A pattern control mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the leaf springs of each pair are connected in generally parallel relationship to the lower ends of needle jacks.
 7. A pattern control mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the electromagnets of the electromagnet pair are disposed in opposition on opposite sides of the path traversed by the lower ends of the springs of the spring pairs. 